Men’s DI Hockey

A Decade of Green and Gold Hockey Highlights Reel

Golden Knights Men’s Hockey

Strong leadership and a standout first-year class gives the Golden Knights their 72nd winning season

With leadership from veteran team members, the Clarkson men’s hockey team had a successful 201617 season, skating to the 72nd winning season in the program’s 95-year history.

The Green and Gold placed five players on the league’s all-star team, with captain, senior defenseman James Dehaas, earning ECAC Hockey Best Defenseman accolades, along with second-team honors. Clarkson’s leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, junior Sam Vigneault, was named a third-team All-Star.

The Class of 2020

The Golden Knights also received a big boost from the Class of 2020, which emerged as one of the best groups of rookies in the country.

The Knights’ first-year students were one of the most productive groups in the country. Clarkson’s Class of 2020 led ECAC Hockey rookies in scoring and was eighth overall in the NCAA, averaging 2.44 points per game. The Knights’ seven rookie skaters, and goaltender Jake Kielly (one assist), accounted for 31 percent of Clarkson’s offense, with 95 points on 35 goals and 60 assists.

Three members of Clarkson’s standout Class of 2020 were recognized by ECAC Hockey when they were selected to the conference’s All-Rookie team. Kielly and forwards Sheldon Rempal and Nico Sturm represented the Green and Gold on the league’s six-member rookie team, giving Clarkson the majority of the best first-years in the conference by vote of the ECAC Hockey coaches.

With Shawn Weller and Nick Dodge up front, Ken Dryden Award-winner

2006-07

David Leggio in goal and a solid team behind them, the Knights win their fifth ECAC tournament championship and advance to the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 1999. Winner, ECAC-regular season title. Led by the heralded Class of 2008 (Mike Arciero, David Cayer, Grant Clitsome,

2007-08

Nick Dodge, Dave Leggio and Steve Zalewski), the team closes out a 22-win campaign by skating to the program’s first NCAA tournament victory since 1996.

2011-12

Rookie head coach Casey Jones is named a finalist for ECAC Hockey Coach of the Year, while goaltender Paul Karpowich graduates as the Golden Knights all-time save leader, with a school record of 3,735 stops.

Also named a finalist for ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year, Kielly started 35 of Clarkson’s 39 games, including 28 of the last 29. He posted a .911 save percentage and a 2.56 goals-against average with three shutouts. In ECAC Hockey games, Kielly played more minutes than any other league rookie goaltender. In addition, he made more saves than any other conference first-year goalie and posted the most wins (8) and ties (3) in league play among rookies. Kielly was named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Month in November, ECAC Hockey Goaltender of the Week (three times) and NCAA Hockey First Star and was nominated for the ECAC Hockey Honor Roll five times.

2012-13

Junior Matt Zarbo becomes the first Clarkson player to receive the prestigious ECAC Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year award. Ranked among the top 20 teams in the country throughout much of the season. Allan

2013-14

McPherson completes his Golden Knights career with 103 points, joining Clarkson’s elite 100-point club. (l-r) Clarkson President Tony Collins, Don Seale ’57 and Director of Athletics & Recreation Steve Yianoukos ’72

In 2017, Don Seale ’57, one of the first black players in U.S. collegiate hockey, was one of seven former Clarkson athletes and one benefactor inducted into Clarkson’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Seale played for the Golden Knights from 1954-57. He skated in 67 games for Clarkson as an all-star defenseman during one of the most successful periods in Golden Knights history; the team went 67-15-2 during Seale’s tenure.

The other honorees were Brigitte Aldous ’90, Joe “Skip” Demerski ’67, Barry Fischer ’54, Vele Galovski ’83, Jerry Kieran ’92, Craig Laughlin ’80 and Bill Little ’61.

Clarkson is one of the hottest teams in

2015-16

the nation during the last half of the season and is one of only two ECAC Hockey programs to reach the 20-win mark overall.